Change be damned. After seven memorable years, Galeria Leme has finally moved. But fans of the trailblazing Butantã gallery – which boasts a vibrant, eclectic lineup of international and Brazilian artists including Danish duo AVPD, Peruvian multimedia artist Gabriel Aceverdo Velarde, and Brazil’s Luiz Braga and Rosana Palazyan – could be forgiven for doing a sudden double-take at its new location. Situated just two blocks away from its former address, the coolly minimalist new gallery is a project by Metro Architects in partnership with the gallery’s original creator, the celebrated São Paulo architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha – and it’s built from a nearly identical blueprint. But the new building cunningly expands the space by over 100 square metres, with a back cube of an annex connected by an elevated walkway that forms an inviting patio underneath.
